Mali Hudson has been a main character since January 2023. He is played by Kyle Shilling
| Mali Hudson | |
|---|---|
Character Profile
| |
| Birthday: | Not known |
| Birthplace: | Australia |
| Father: | Not specified |
| Mother: | Victoria Hudson |
| Siblings: | Elandra Hudson Lowanna Hudson Iluka Hudson plus at least 3 other siblings |
| Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | None |
| Occupation: | Board Shop Owner |
| Played By: | Kyle Shilling |
2023 -[]
In January 2023, Mackenzie Booth asked Mali to help her set up a nursery for the baby her brother Dean and his partner Ziggy were expecting. It turned out Dean knew Mali already, because of his work as a surfboard shaper. Dean asked Mali to manage his board shop when the baby was born. Mali began to get to know the locals through the shop and the surfing lessons he was giving. Alf Stewart was suspicious of him in the beginning and thought that he might be a River Boy. Mali assured him that he wasn't, and that he was the son of a fisherman. Alf allowed him to stay in a caravan for his future visits.
Mali met Rose Delaney through her brother Xander and went on a date with her. He went cold on her after learning that she was a police officer, because the police weren't trusted where he came from. Rose convinced him to give her another chance and they went for breakfast the next time he was in town. Dean then asked him to look after the board shop full-time, which he said he'd need to talk over with his family. He went on another couple of dates with Rose and they spent the night together in his van. They were interrupted the next morning by the arrival of his sister Elandra. She wanted to know why Mali had moved away without telling anybody. After Mali showed her around town, she accepted his choices but warned that he'd still have to tell their mother.
When Dean and Ziggy moved away, the board shop was signed over to Mali. He promised Dean that he'd keep an eye on Mackenzie. He soon found himself consoling her when her terminally ill ex-boyfriend Gabe Miller returned. When Xander was injured by drug thieves who had killed his partner Jamie, Mali was unhappy that Rose chose to track down the culprits rather than stay by her brother's side. He stayed with Xander until she returned and broke up with her. He said they had different ideas about what was important. Meanwhile, he learned that Mackenzie had returned after taking some time out to deal with Gabe's return. She was hiding out at the farm and she asked him to move in with her because she was struggling on her own. Mali agreed. Mali renamed the board shop Manta Ray Boards and threw a grand opening with help from Mac and a bit of hindrance from John. When Mac learned that Gabe had died, he gave her some space but was concerned when she slept with Kahu Parata. Mali and Rose got back together again the aftermath of his birthday party.
In July 2023, Mali was injured when a bomb intended to injure Marilyn Chambers detonated. He suffered a perforated ear drum and had to give up surfing for several weeks. This hit him hard financially because giving surf lessons was a large part of his income. He tried to get around it by wearing an earplug but he fell off his board and had to scramble to safety. Mackenzie convinced him to ask Alf for a rent freeze until he got back on his feet again. He was unhappy when Mackenzie paid his share of rent on their house and didn't like Rose's suggestion that he ask his family for help. He felt it would make him a failure.
Xander and Mackenzie took over the surf classes while he recovered. He became increasingly frustrated that he couldn't give lessons himself and criticised Xander over his teaching methods. Meanwhile, he learned that his mother Victoria had seen photos of himself and Rose together online. He took Rose to meet his family. Victoria was annoyed at not being told that Rose was a police officer. Xander's brother Iluka had been in trouble with the police and they had been harassing him ever since. Mali helped Rose search for her father who she had never met. He helped clear the air with Xander who had not wante Rose to look for him.
Mali and Rose's relationship ran into difficulties when his ex-girlfriend Zara Campbell showed up. She declared that she was his "promised wife" and tried to get back together with him. She eventually admitted that she wanted to give up law and had hoped that getting back with Mali would soften the blow with her family. Mali agreed to her her stay indefinitely but Mackenzie came home and called a halt to this nonsense. Mali told Zara to go back home and to be honest with her family.
When Mali's brother Iluka came to town, he thought that Iluka was acting suspicious on his reasoning to be in town. He admitted that it was because he had stolen some money from the Allens gang, and they were after him. After secretly getting Mali's address from Mackenzie and Levi, three gang members trashed the house and took Levi and Mac hostage, eventually leaving Levi stabbed in a fight. They took Iluka and dumped his unconscious body at the side of the road. When Iluka eventually was found and taken to hospital, Mali organized a plan to fight the Allens once and for all. Elandra thought it was a bad idea, and eventually told Rose, who had not heard anything of the Allens situation. Mali and the Allens met up and fought, with Mali being helped by two new River Boys. The police, led by Rose, broke it up, and took the Allens away. Rose eventually said that she didn't want Mali treating her like the enemy, and broke up with him. Mali attempted to let Iluka move in, which was stopped by Mackenzie, and get a job, which was stopped by Elandra, so eventually him and Elandra decided to go home. Mali went on a trip to see them a few months later.